Heard Mickey Say Dallas Worst In League At Yards Per Play

[CooterBrown]

When the other team goes 75 yards on two plays, like NO did, it will drive up the Yards Per Play Average. (I will agree that you can't throw out those plays, because every team gives up occasional big plays.) The offense deserves more credit than just time of possession. Just a couple first downs by the offense makes a huge difference. Field position helps points per game allowed more than anything else. The farther a team has to go to score, the harder it is to do. It's the offense's 3 and outs that really make a defense look worse than it is. For example: Look at how many plays Houston ran in Dallas territory compared to Dallas in Houston territory. THAT is how that game was won.

 

[LucaBrasi]

This defense will be exposed, and be exposed badly. Let's just hope the oline can sustain some semblance of winning football.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

We can't stop the run and we can't pressure the QB. That is usually a recipe for disaster. But....But...because we have been so proficient running the football....a lot of our warts have been covered. And I have said this until I am blue in the face on this board....a dominant OL will make the front office, the coaches, the other players ALL look better. And I still think this OL has room for growth THIS year. And will be hands down, no debating....best OL in football 2 years from now.

Having said that....you will see what this defense is really about....when we face a team that can stop our running game. That will probably happen this Sunday. And if it does, do not be alarmed. We will not another run defense like this all year.

 

[noshame]

I would throw all the stats out the window and see how we fare against a complete team this week. Because it's the first time we've played one all year.

 

[percyhoward]

The problems on defense are being covered up by TOP by the offense. We are currently 5th in the league. Last season we ended up 24th.

This defense is still getting gashed. But when you limit the other team's offensive possessions (and their opportunity to score) you can still win some games despite a bad defense.

These is some truth to this, but probably less than most think. IOW, I don't think you can chalk up the defense's performance so far to the offense's TOP and call it a day.

The defense is allowing 1.75 points per drive this year, which ranks 7th. Last year it was 2.31 (30th). This is points per drive, so it doesn't matter that they're facing fewer drives per game. (Last year's defense faced 11.5 drives per game. This year, it's 10. 2).

Take last year's defense and give them 10.2 drives per game to have to face, and they'd have still given up 23.6 points per game in 2013 (instead of 26.6, which was the actual number). Take this year's defense and give them 11.5 drives per game to face, and they be giving up only 20.1 points per game (instead of 17.9, the actual number).

If that last paragraph made you dizzy, just know that you could take this year's running game, put it with last year's defense, and still be giving up more than a FG per game more than you would be with this year's defense and last year's running game.

The high defensive ranking is mostly based on all the takeaways, which probably has a lot to do with quality of opponent. Three of the five offenses we've faced rank 20th or lower in both points per drive and turnovers per drive.

To the defense's credit, the opposing offense's TOP per drive is down from 12th to 20th over last year (Amazingly, our defense ranks 13th in TOP after having faced 3 of the top 6 offenses in TOP so far), and opponents' yards per drive is down from 2nd to 10th. So one of the reasons the defense is facing fewer plays is that the opposing offense is being kept off the field by our offense, but another reason is that this defense is getting opposing offenses off the field. Our opponent's drive success rate (the percentage of down series that end in a first down--the lower the ranking, the better the defense) ranks 18th this year. It was 1st last year.

 

[cheftjpeck]

Hmmmm ... Yup I'm in the cowboy zone .. Because all in hearing is at 4-1 we suck.. We're just lucky and we don't deserve to win.. Yup it's the cowboy zone and its usual cast of true fans ..

Relax.. No one take offense .. Just having some fun

Our defense has allot of room to improve .. Getting gashed the way they have been COULD catch up to them .. Or maybe it won't ... Logic and stats says it should but that doesn't always equate to fact or what will happen..

As weeks go by .. Confidence should grow along with comfort in the scheme .. We are what we are .. All the media pundits and stats in the world won't change that

 

[Blackspider214]

Sturm posted an article last week (before the Texans game) that basically indicated the defense, through 4 games this year, is worsr than last's year defense after 4 games.

I personally think they are better than last year, however, this week will tell all of us a lot. The Saints game was very encouraging, however, the Saints are having problems so it's hard to determine what kind of barometer they are.

Kapernick, Austin, Locker, and Fitzpatrick collectively represent a fairly mediocre set of QBs -- although I think Austin has a lot of potential.

Last year's defense, especially the first game, did cause more turnovers.

Yards per play is not the be all end all to judge a defense. Getting off the field on 3rd downs and red zone defense is big in this league. Teams will move the ball between the 20s. We are getting more timely stops this year than last year.

We aren't great but we are definitely serviceable. Our offense has been off key for much of this 4 game winning streak. Saints is the only game they played great. Defense came through against the Rams and Texans to keep them off the board while we found our offense. And made those plays to seal the game. Interception by Mo and the 3rd down stop in OT.

Although, the Texans gashing us in the 2nd half does alarm me somewhat.

 

[Frosty]

I have seen more 3 and outs from this defense in 5 games then than the last two years combined... 5 games in....I no there are not great but I see improvement and I will take that..

 

[romothesavior]

According to resident stat guru @percyhoward , the Cowboys rank seventh in points per possession, which is a far more telling stat.

Yes and no. Seems like their "bend but don't break" defense is gonna catch up with them eventually.

 

[Eanwen]

The one thing I've noticed about this defense is that it usually plays pretty good for one half and completely falls apart the other half. For example against the Texans they were pretty solid and didn't give up any points in the first half but then gave up huge plays and 17 points in the second half. The whole season has been like that IMO.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Yes and no. Seems like their "bend but don't break" defense is gonna catch up with them eventually.

Perhaps.

But the bottom line is, for now, when it comes to stopping teams from scoring on a per drive basis, the Cowboys are seventh best in the league

 

[cheftjpeck]

The one thing I've noticed about this defense is that it usually plays pretty good for one half and completely falls apart the other half. For example against the Texans they were pretty solid and didn't give up any points in the first half but then gave up huge plays and 17 points in the second half. The whole season has been like that IMO.

Not really.. 49ers scored 0 points in 2nd half
Titans and Rams scored 10 each

More points have been scored on dallas in the first half of games as opposed to 2nd half .. Of course in the most recent games that trend has reversed .. I really think we are gauging to much on 5 games worth of stats .. The most important stat is we are 4-1...

 

[Cebrin]

I recall the Packers similar defensive stature. They won the SB with one of the worst in yards but best in Turnover and Points allowed.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

The defense is better but it's not good.

The lack of talent at DE, at the #1 DT spot, the injuries at LB (there is talent there) and the inconsistent play at CB from a couple of the players has all contributed to a not very good defense.

BUT there could be some improvement with what Lawrence brings to the table, some improved health at LB, and more playing time at corner for Scandrick & Moore.

Oh and seeing Bishop get most of the snaps the #1 DT spot.

 

[Champsheart]

I was listening to Talking Cowboys and they were talking about the defense and Mickey said that Dallas was dead last in the NFL in allowing 6.4 yards per play. I was shocked at hearing this because the impression has been that this defense has been vastly improved, so this begs the question................

Is this defense really that improved?

Who cares. THERE IS ONLY 1 STAT that matters. Points against, which they are TOP 10. That tells you right there they are better. The second most important stat is turnovers forced. The rest is just mumbo jumbo that means squat.

 

[percyhoward]

I recall the Packers similar defensive stature. They won the SB with one of the worst in yards but best in Turnover and Points allowed.

Dallas' takeaway/touchdown ratio is pretty good so far at 9/11. On a pace for 29/35.

That Packers defense was an incredible 32/22.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I was listening to Talking Cowboys and they were talking about the defense and Mickey said that Dallas was dead last in the NFL in allowing 6.4 yards per play. I was shocked at hearing this because the impression has been that this defense has been vastly improved

It is. The problem with the yards per play stat is it isn't a good measuring tool to judge defenses by.

 

[Paniolo22]

What shocks me is the opposition not taking advantage of our poor run defense. If they kept running like we do, we'd be toast. I fear the Giants for this reason alone.

 

[Ashwynn]

We can give up 99 yards a play so long as they dont score.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Doesn't matter how many yards we give up it matters how many points we give up.